ee 


£  * 


I     5 


V 


EUGENE 
FIELD 

An  Auto=Analysis 

^ 

Bow  One  friar  met  tbe 
Devil  ana  two  Pursued 
Bint  «««««« 


Published  by  H.  M.  Caldwell 
Co.,  New  York  and  Boston 
Nineteen  Hundred  and  One 


Copyright, 
BY  H.  M.  CALDWELL  Co. 


Colonial 

Electrotyped  and  Printed  by  C.  H.  Slmonds  &  Co. 
Boston,  Mass.,  U.  S.  A. 


906222 


INTRODUCTORY  NOTE 


I  HE  late  Eugene  Field 
first  exhibited  his 
unique  vein  of  humour 
in  "The  Tribune 
Primer/*  a  collection  of 
satirical  paragraphs 
written  ostensibly  for 
children,  though  of  course,  in  reality, 
for  their  elders,  and  originally  issued  in 
the  columns  of  the  Denver  Tribune,  of 
which  the  author  was  then  (J882)  editor* 
Later  in  the  same  year  appeared  from 
the  press  of  Fred  Tredwell,  in  Brooklyn, 
"The  Model  Primer/'  made  up  of  selec 
tions  from  the  former  book  and  illus 
trated  by  Hoppin*  Both  of  these  editions 
are  now  extremely  rare,  and  command 
handsome  prices  from  collectors, 

A  number  of  other  early  or  little 
known  writings  of  Field,  which  have 
been  printed  hitherto  in  limited  or  costly 

9 


editions,  are  being  gradually  brought  out 
in  a  form  which  is  both  attractive  to  the 
fastidious  bookman  and  also  within  the 
reach  of  the  average  buyer.  To  this  class 
belong  the  two  items  issued  in  the  present 
volume,  neither  of  which  has  ever  been 
included  in  any  edition  of  Field's  works. 
They  are  exact  reproductions  of  the 
limited  editions  issued  by  Mr.  Frank 
Morris  of  the  Old  Book  Shop  in  Chi 
cago,  a  favourite  resort  of  Field  and  his 
literary  friends,  and  the  scene  of  some  of 
his  most  celebrated  pranks  and  practical 
jokes* 

"An  Auto- Analysis "  was  written  in 
response  to  the  requests  for  biographical 
facts  which  the  poet  was  constantly  re 
ceiving*  and  was  printed  as  a  four-page 
leaflet. 

44  The  Story  of  Two  Friars n  was  first 
issued  in  the  Chicago  Record,  and  created 
11 


a   great  deal  of  attention*    It  was  an 
open  secret  that  Friar  Gonsol  and  Friar 
Francis  stood  respectively  for  the  Rev* 
Frank  W.  Gunsaulus  and  the  Rev.  Frank 
M.  Bristol,  two  well-known  Chicago  di 
vines  and  bibliomaniacs  who  were  close 
friends  of  Field.    Like  the  latter,  both  of 
these  gentlemen  were  members  of  the 
literary  set  which   frequented  the  Old 
Book  Shop  and  McClurg's  famous  Saint 
and   Sinner's   Corner,    and   their 
penchant  for  early  editions 
is  admirably  taken  off 
in  this  witty  and 
good-natured 
sketch. 


13 


INTRODUCTION 


15 


S  EUGENE  FIELD 
rose  in  literary  im 
portance  he  was  so 
importuned  by  peo 
ple  for  autographs, 
sentiments,  verses  of 
his  poems,  for  the  poems  them 
selves,  for  scraps  of  information  of 
whatever  nature  concerning  him 
self,  that  in  J894  he  had  printed 
a  four-page  pamphlet  setting  forth 
most  of  the  facts  of  his  career  up 
to  date. 

This  curious  but  most  interest 
ing  document  also  gave  a  truthful 
and  vivid  description  of  his  personal 
appearance,  his  tastes  and  distastes, 
and  tells,  too,  of  his  favourite  authors 

17 


and  composers,  actor  and  actress; 
his  dislike  of  politics  and  his  hatred 
for  war  and  opposition  to  capital 
punishment;  his  fear  to  indulge  him 
self  from  pecuniary  considerations, 
in  a  growing  taste  for  sculpture  and 
painting,  and,  curious  statement,  for 
Field  was  rhythmic  to  his  finger  tips, 
his  limited  love  of  music. 

He  analyses  his  feeling  for  chil 
dren,  a  most  interesting  proceeding 
from  one  who  has  written  such 
beautiful  love  songs  of  childhood, 
and  tells  us  that  they  interested 
him  only  so  far  as  he  found  he 
could  make  pets  of  them  —  the 
fact  being  that  nobody's  babes  in 
terested  him,  naturally,  so  much  as 

19 


his  own,  with  a  goodly  number 

of  which  Dame  Nature  and 

Mrs.  Field  had  not 

failed  to  supply 

him. 


21 


|E  would  have  the  priv 
ilege  of  franchise  ex 
tended  to  all  women 
and  recalls  with  pride 
that  in  nearly  a  quar 
ter  of  a  century  he 
had  written  in  reverential  praise  of 
womankind. 

He  gives  us  a  chronological  list 
of  his  publications  which  is  incor 
rect  in  the  particular  that  it  omits 
the  name  of  the  book  issued  in  J89  J 
— Echoes  from  the  Sabine  Farm  — 
which  issue  antedated  the  McClurg 
publication  nearly  two  years. 

Though  written  with  a  smile, 
this  auto-analysis  of  Field's  comes 
strikingly  near  the  truth. 

23 


Confessedly  careless  in  dress  — 
matters  of  the  mind  and  heart  be 
ing  of  greater  importance  to  him 
—  Field  was  rather  methodical  than 
otherwise  in  all  other  relations  of  life. 

He  had  a  just  appreciation  of  the 
letters  and  of  bits  of  manuscript 
material  of  people  who  were  emi 
nent  or  who  were  likely  to  arrive 
at  distinction  in  the  world,  and  he 
constantly  impressed  upon  friends 
and  acquaintances  the  importance 
of  preserving  all  such  data. 

I  never  saw  him  but  he  would 
question  me  as  to  any  interview 
or  association  I  had  with  Edwin 
Booth,  Lawrence  Barrett,  Sir  Henry 
Irving,  Joseph  Jefferson,  W.  H. 


Crane,  Stuart  Robson,  or  any  fel 
low  player  who  had  attained  celeb 
rity,  and  would  be  most  solicitous 
as  to  whether  I  had  written  down 
my  remembrances  and  impressions 
of  the  men  and  the  occasions. 

He  thought  it  little  less  than 
criminal  to  neglect  an  opportunity 
to  record  what  might  ultimately 
prove  of  exceeding  interest. 

Out  of  this  feeling  came  the  Auto- 
Analysis.  It  was  no  unusual  vanity 
that  prompted  Field  to  write  it*  Mr. 
Joseph  Jefferson  once  said  to  me  that 
all  clever  men  knew  they  were  clever. 
Vanity  did  not  consist  in  knowing 
one's  cleverness,  but  in  parading  it. 


27 


O  FIELD  felt.  He 
knew  that  if  the 
world  took  an  inter 
est  in  him,  and  it 
unquestionably  d  i  d, 
it  would  want  facts 
concerning  him,  and  he  determined 
the  world  should  receive  them  at 
first  hand  —  from  himself. 

This,  as  I  believe,  was  the  real 
reason  he  issued  the  Auto-Analysis, 
and,  beside  exemplifying  Field's 
forethought  and  methodicalness,  •  it 
served  his  stated  purpose  to  "give 
these  facts,  confessions,  and  observa 
tions  for  the  information  of  those 
who,  for  one  reason  or  another, 
are  constantly  applying  to  me  for 

29 


biographical  data  concerning  my 
self." 

Of  Field's  first  publication,  The 
Tribune  Primer,  Denver,  1882,  he 
has  written  on  the  fly-leaf  of  one  of 
the  books,  that  the  whole  number 
printed  did  not  exceed  fifty.  It  is 
the  scarcest  of  his  publications.  I 
can  see  the  smile  in  his  eye  and 
the  smirk  on  his  lip  as  he  wrote 
with  respect  to  the  book  that  it  was 
44  Very,  very  scarce." 

The  Model  Primer,  which  was 
printed  by  Tredwell  of  Brooklyn 
and  cleverly  illustrated  by  Hop- 
pin,  is  also  much  sought  for  by 
collectors  and  commands  a  good 
price. 

31 


It  was    something   of  an    annoy 
ance  to  Field  that  neither  this  nor 
his    subsequent    publication, 
Culture's  Garland,  ever 
yielded  satisfactory 
monetary  re 
turns. 


I  HERE  were  also  six 
uncut  issues  of  Cul 
ture's  Garland,  In 
his  own  copy  he,  in 
verse,  humourously 
deplores  having 
written  the  book.  It  is  composed 
of  Field's  newspaper  articles  of  a 
satirical  and  humourous  character. 
Julian  Hawthorne  wrote  the  intro 
duction. 

The  Echoes  from  the  Sabine 
Farm  was  first  privately  printed  by 
the  writer  of  these  lines  in  J89J. 
One  hundred  copies  only  were 
made  —  thirty  on  Japan  and  seventy 
on  hand-made  paper.  The  initials 
were  illuminated  throughout  and 

35 


there  was  a  vignette  headpiece  to 
each  poem.  E.  H.  Garrett  did  the 
drawing,  and  W.  H.  W.  Bicknell 
the  etched  title-page.  For  each  of 
the  Japan  paper  copies  Eugene  Field 
and  his  brother  Roswell  M.  Field 
wrote  autograph  poems. 

Field  often  promised  his  friend, 
Frank  M.  Morris,  that  he  would 
write  an  introduction  to  this  Auto- 
Analysis,  and  that  Morris  should 
publish  the  whole  matter,  not  so 
much  as  an  evidence  of  regard  as 
a  manifestation  of  good  faith  on 
Field's  part.  But  along  with  his 
proposed  Life  of  Horace,  which 
never  fructified,  went  his  intentions 
with  regard  not  only  to  the  intro- 

37 


duction  but  a  host  of  other  projects 
of  a  literary  nature  never,  alas  I  to 
see  the  light* 

FRANCIS  WILSON. 


89 


EUGENE  FIELD 


41 


WAS  born  in  St*  Louis, 
Missouri,  September 
3d,  J850,  the  second, 
and  oldest  surviving, 
son  of  Roswell  Martin 
and  Frances  (Reed) 
Field,  both  natives  of 
Windham  County, 
Vermont. 

Upon  the  death  of 
my  mother  (J856)  I 
was  put  in  the  care  of 
my  (paternal)  cousin, 
Miss  Mary  Field 
French,  at  Amherst, 
Massachusetts* 

In  J865,  I  entered 
the  Private  School  of 

43 


Rev.  James  Tufts,  Monson,  Mas 
sachusetts,  and  there  fitted  for 
Williams   College,  which 
institution   I    entered 
as  a  freshman 
in  1868. 


45 


PON    my    father's 
death,  in  1869,  I  en 
tered  the  sophomore 
class   of  Knox   Col 
lege,  Galesburg,  Illi 
nois,    my    guardian, 
John  W.  Burgess,  now  of  Columbia 
College,  being  then  a  professor  in 
that  institution. 

But  in  1870  I  went  to  Columbia, 
Missouri,  and  entered  the  State 
University  there,  and  completed  my 
junior  year  with  my  brother. 

In  1872,  I  visited  Europe,  spend 
ing  six  months  and  my  patrimony 
in  France,  Italy,  Ireland,  and  Eng 
land. 

In  May,  J873, 1  became  a  reporter 

47 


on  the  St.  Louis  Evening  Journal. 
In  October  of  that  year  I  married 
Miss  Julia    Sutherland    Comstock 
(born  in  Chenango  County,  New 
York)  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  at 
that    time    a    girl    of   sixteen. 
We  have  had  eight  chil 
dren  —  three  daugh 
ters  and  five 
sons. 


49 


Y  newspaper  connec 
tions  have  been  as 
follows:  1875-76, 
city  editor  of  the 
St.  Joseph,  Missouri, 
Gazette;  1876-80, 
editorial  writer  on  the  St.  Louis 
Journal  and  St*  Louis  Times-Jour 
nal;  J 880-8 1,  managing  editor  of 
the  Kansas  City  Times;  J 88J-83, 
managing  editor  of  the  Denver 
Tribune* 

Since  J883  I  have  been  a  con 
tributor  to  the  Chicago  Record 
(formerly  Morning  News). 

I  wrote  and  published  my  first 
bit  of  verse  in  1 879;  it  was  entitled 
"Christmas  Treasures"  (see  Little 

61 


Book  of  Western  Verse).  Just  ten 
years  later  I  began  suddenly  to 
write  verse  very  frequently ;  mean 
while  (1 883-89),  I  had  laboured 
diligently  at  writing  short  stories 
and  tales. 

Most  of  these  I  revised  half  a  dozen 

times.    One  (The  Were-Wolf), 

as  yet  unpublished,  I  have 

re-written  eight  times 

during   the    last 

eight  years. 


publications  have 
been,  chronologi 
cally,  as  follows: 

I.  The  Tribune 
Primer;  Denver, 
J882.  (Out  of  print, 
very  scarce.)  (The  Model  Primer ; 
illustrated  by  Hoppin;  Tredwell, 
Brooklyn,  J882.  A  Pirate  edi 
tion.) 

2.  Culture's  Garland;  Ticknor, 
Boston,  J  887.  (Out  of  print.) 

A  Little  Book  of  Western  Verse ; 
Chicago,  J892.  (Large  paper,  pri 
vately  printed  and  limited.) 

A  Little  Book  of  Profitable  Tales ; 
Chicago,  J889.  (Large  paper,  pri 
vately  printed  and  limited.) 

65 


LITTLE  Book 
of  Western  Verse; 
Scribners,  New 
York,  1890. 

4.  A  Little  Book 
of  Profitable  Tales; 
Scribners,  New  York,  J890. 

5.  With   Trumpet   and    Drum; 
Scribners,  New  York,  1892* 

6.  Second  Book  of  Verse ;  Scrib 
ners,  New  York,  J893. 

7.  Echoes  from  The   Sabine 
Farm.      Translations  of   Horace; 
McClurg,  Chicago,  1893.     (In  col 
laboration  with  my  brother,  Ros- 
well  Martin  Field.) 

8.  Introduction  to  Stone's  First 


57 


Editions  of  American  Authors; 
Cambridge,  J893. 

9.  The  Holy  Cross  and  other 
Tales;  Stone  and  Kimball,  Cam 
bridge,  J893. 

Ill  health  compelled  me  to  visit 

Europe  in  J889;  there  I  remained 

fourteen    months,  that    time 

being    divided    between 

England,  Germany, 

Holland  and 

Belgium. 


residence  at  present 
is  in  Buena  Park,  a 
north  shore  suburb 
of  Chicago. 

I  have  a  miscel 
laneous  collection  of 
books  numbering  3,500,  and  I  am 
fond  of  the  quaint  and  curious  in 
every  line.  I  am  very  fond  of  dogs, 
birds,  and  all  small  pets  —  a  passion 
not  approved  of  by  my  wife.  My 
favourite  flower  is  the  carnation, 
and  I  adore  dolls.  My  favourite 
hymn  is  "Bounding  Billows." 
My  favourites  in  fiction  are  Haw 
thorne's  "Scarlet  Letter,"  "Don 
Quixote,"  and  "Pilgrim's  Prog 
ress." 


GREATLY  love 
Hans  Christian  An 
dersen^  Tales,  and  I 
am  deeply  interested 
in  folklore  and  fairy 
tales.  I  believe  in 
ghosts,  in  witches,  and  in  fairies.  I 
should  like  to  own  a  big  astronomical 
telescope,  and  a  24-tune  music  box> 
My  heroes  in  history  are  Martin 
Luther,  Mme.  Lamballe,  Abraham 
Lincoln;  my  favourite  poems  are 
Korner's  "Battle  Prayer/'  Words 
worth's"  We  are  Seven/' Newman's 
"Lead,  Kindly  Light,"  Luther's 
Hymn,  Schiller's  "The  Diver,"  Hor 
ace's  "Fons  Bandusiae,"  and  Burns' 
"Cottar's  Saturday  Night." 

63 


DISLIKE  Dante  and 
Byron,  I  should  like 
to  have  known  Jere 
miah  the  prophety 
old  man  Poggio, 
Horace,  ^Walter 
Scott,  Bonaparte,  Hawthorne,  Mme. 
Sontag,  Sir  John  Herschel,  Hans 
Andersen.  My  favourite  actor  is 
Henry  Irving;  actress,  Mme* 
Modjeska.  T!  dislike  "Politics"  so 
called.  I  should  like  to  have  the 
privilege  of  voting  extended  to 
women.  I  am  unalterably  opposed 
to  capital  punishment.  I  favour  a 
system  of  pensions  for  noble  ser 
vices  in  literature,  art,  science,  etc. 
I  approve  of  compulsory  education. 

66 


F  I  had  my  way,  I 
should  make  the 
abuse  of  horses,  dogs, 
and  cattle  a  penal  of 
fence  ;  I  should  abol 
ish  all  dog-laws  and 
dog-catchers,  and  I  would  punish 
severely  everybody  who  caught 
and  caged  birds.  I  dislike  all  exer 
cise  and  I  play  all  games  very  in 
differently.  I  love  to  read  in  bed. 

I  believe  in  churches  and  schools ; 
I  hate  wars,  armies,  soldiers,  guns, 
and  fireworks. 

I  like  music  (limited)* 
I  have  been  a  great  theatre-goer* 
I  enjoy  the  society  of  doctors  and 
clergymen. 

67 


Y  favourite  colour  is 
red. 

I  do  not  care  par 
ticularly  for  sculpture 
or  for  paintings;  I 
try  not  to  become  in 
terested  in  them,  for  the  reason  that 
if  I  were  to  cultivate  a  taste  for  them 
I  should  presently  become  hopelessly 
bankrupt. 

I  am  extravagantly  fond  of  per 
fumes, 

I  am  a  poor  diner,  and  I  drink  no 
wine  or  spirits  of  any  kind ;  I  do  not 
smoke  tobaccoj 

I  dislike  crowds  and  I  abominate 
functions. 

I  am  six  feet  in  height;   am  of 

69 


spare  build,  weigh  J60  pounds,  and 
have  shocking  taste  in  dress. 

But  I  like  to  have  well-dressed 
people  about  me. 

My  eyes  are  blue,  my  complexion 
pale,  my  face  is  shaven,  and  I  incline 
to  baldness. 

It  is  only  when  I  look  and  see  how 

young  and  fair  and  sweet  my 

wife  is  that  I  have  a 

good  opinion  of 

myself.) 


71 


AM  fond  of  the  com 
panionship  of  women, 
and  I  have  no  un 
conquerable  prejudice 
against  feminine 
beauty.  I  recall  with 
pride  that  in  twenty-two  years  of 
active  journalism  I  have  always 
written  in  reverential  praise  of 
womankind*  I  favour  early  mar 
riage.  I  do  not  love  all  children. 

I  have  tried  to  analyse  my  feel 
ings  toward  children,  and  I  think  I 
discover  that  I  love  them  in  so  far 
as  I  can  make  pets  of  them. 

I  believe  that,  if  I  live,  I  shall  do 
my  best  literary  work  when  I  am  a 
grandfather. 

73 


I  give  these  facts,  confessions  and 

observations  for  the  information 

of  those  who,  for  one  reason 

or  another,  are  applying 

constantly  to  me  for 

biographical  data 

concerning 

myseE 


75 


Bow  One  friar  met  toe  Devil  ana 
two  Pursued  Rim 


Story  of  tbc  2w  friars* 

fcefellintbeyear1662,inwbicb 
J  same  year  were  many  witchcrafts 
and  sorceries,  sucb  as  never  be* 
fore  bad  been  seen  and  tbe  lite  of  wbicb  will 
never  again,  by  grace  of  beaven,  afflict  man* 
hind«in  tbis  year  it  befell  tbat  tbe  devil  came 
upon  eartb  to  tempt  an  boly  friar,  named  friar 
(Bonsol,  being  strictly  minded  to  win  tbat 
righteous  vessel  of  piety  unto  bis  evil  plea* 
sance* 


wit  901  well  that  tbfs  friar  bad 
grievously  offended  tbe  devil,  for  of 
all  men  tben  on  eartb  tbere  was  none  more 
bolier  tban  be  nor  none  surer  to  speak  and  to 
do  sweet  cbarity  unto  all  bis  fellows  in  ever? 
place*  Cberefore  it  was  tbat  tbe  devil  was 
sore  wrotb  at  tbe  friar  $onsol,  being  mi0bt« 
ily  plagued  not  only  by  bis  teachings  and  bis 
preachings,  but  also  by  tbe  pious  words  wbicb 
be  continually  did  do.  -Right  truly  tbe  devil 
fcnew  tbat  by  no  common  temptations  was  tbis 
friar  to  be  moved,  for  tbe  wbicb  reason  did 
tbe  devil  seeh  in  dart  and  troublous  cogita* 
tions  to  betbinh  bim  of  some  new  instrument 
wberewitb  be  tnigbt  bedazzle  tbe  eyes  and  en= 
snare  tbe  understanding  of  tbe  boly  man*  On 
a  sudden  it  came  unto  tbe  fiend  tbat  by  no 
corporeal  allurement  wouM  be  be  able  to 

7 


acbieve  bis  miserable  end,  for  tbat  by  reason 
of  ait  abstemious  life  ana  a  frugal  diet  tbe 
friar  (Bonsol  bad  weaned  bis  body  from  tbose 
frailties  and  lusts  to  wbicb  human  flesb  is 
by  nature  of  tbe  old  Adam  witbin  it  disposed, 
and  by  long«continued  vigils  and  by  earnest 
devotions  and  by  godly  contemplations  and 
by  divers  proper  studies  bad  fixed  bis  mind 
and  bis  soul  witb  exceeding  steadfastness 
upon  tbings  unto  bis  eternal  spiritual  welfare 
appertaining*  Cberef  ore  it  beliked  tbe  devil 
to  devise  and  to  compound  a  certain  little 
bootte  of  migbty  curious  cratt,  wberewitb  be 
migbt  be  lite  to  please  tbe  jfrlar  (Bonsol  and, 
in  tbe  end,  to  ensnare  bim  in  bis  impious 
toils*  flow  tbis  was  tbe  way  of  tbe  devil's 
tbinking,  to  wit:  dbis  friar  sball  suspect  no 
evil  in  tbe  boose,  since  never  before  batb  tbe 


devil  tempted  mankind  witb  sucb  an  instru- 
went,  tbe  common  tbings  wberewitb  tbe  devil 
temptetb  man  being  (as  all  bistories  sbow 
and  all  theologies  teacb)  fruit  and  women 
and  otber  lihe  tbings  pleasing  to  tbe  gross 
and  perishable  senses*  Cberefore,  arguetb 
tbe  devil,  wben  n  sball  tempt  tbis  friar  witb 
a  boohe  be  sball  be  taken  off  bis  guard  and 
sball  not  know  it  to  be  a  temptation*  And 
tbereat  was  tbe  devil  exceeding  merry  and  be 
did  laiigb  full  merrily* 


presently  came  tbis  tblng  of  evil 
unto  tbe  friar  in  tbe  guise  of  anotber 
friar  and  made  a  proper  low  obeisance  unto 
11 


tbe  same*  ttut  tbe  friar  (Bonsol  was  not 
blinded  to  tbe  craft  of  tbe  devil,  for  from  un* 
der  tbe  cloah  and  bood  tbat  be  wore  tbere  did 
issue  tbe  smell  of  sulphur  and  of  brimstone 
wbicb  alone  tbe  devil  batb* 

"ttesbrew  me/'  auotb  tbe  friar  Gonsol, 
'Ml  tbe  odour  in  my  nostrils  be  spikenard 
and  not  tbe  fumes  of  tbe  bottomless  pit!" 

"Hay,  sweet  friar/'  spade  tbe  devil  full 
courteous*?,  "tbe  fragrance  tbou  perceivest 
is  of  frankincense  and  myrrb,  for  n  am  of 
boly  orders  and  n  bave  brought  tbee  a  rigbt* 
eous  beo&e,  delectable  to  loofe  upon  and  profits 
able  unto  tbe  reading*" 

Chen  were  tbe  eyes  of  tbat  friar  $onsol 
full  of  bridbt  sparhlings  and  bis  heart  re* 
Joiced  with  exceeding  joy,  for  be  did  set 
most  store,  next  to  bis  spiritual  welfare,  by 

13 


booties  wberein  was  food  to  bis  beneficial 
devouring, 

"fl  ao  require  tbee,"  quoth  tbe  triar,  "to 
sbew  me  tbat  boohe  tbat  H  may  hnow  tbe  name 
tbereof  and  discover  wbereof  it  treatetb*" 


b£ffl  sbewed  tbe  devil  tbe  boo&e  unto 

|  tbe  friar,  and  tbe  friar  saw  tbat  it 

was  an  uncut  unique  of  incalculable  value; 
tbe  beifibt  of  it  was  balf  a  cubit  and  tbe 
breadtb  of  it  tbe  fourth  part  of  a  cubit  and  tbe 
tbkbness  of  it  five  barleycorns  lacking  tbe 
space  of  tbree  borsebairs.  &bis  boobe  con* 
tained,  witbin  its  divers  picturing,  symbols 
and  similitudes  wrougbt  witb  incomparable 

15 


craft,  the  same  being  such  as  In  buman  vanity 
are  called  proof  before  Utters,  and  imprinted 
upon  India  paper;  also  tbe  booke  contained 
written  upon  its  pages  divers  names  of  tbem 
tbat  bad  possessed  it,  all  tbese  bavins  in  tbeir 
time  been  migbty  and  illustrious  personages; 
but  wbat  seemed  most  delectable  unto  tbe 
friar  was  an  autograpbic  writing  wberein 
'twas  sbewn  tbat  tbe  boohe  sometime  bad 
been  given  by  Venus  di  ffledici  to  Apollos  at 
•fete. 


therefore  tbe  friar  Gonsol  saw 
;tbe  boohe  bow  tbat  it  was  intituled 
aid  imprinted  and  adorned  and  bounden,  be 

17 


ftnew  it  to  be  of  vast  wrtb  and  be  was 
mifibtily  moved  to  possess  it;  therefore  be 
required  of  tbe  otber  (tbat  was  tbe  devil)  tbat 
be  give  unto  bim  an  option  upon  tbe  same  for 
tbe  space  of  seven  days  bence  or  until  sucb  a 
time  as  be  could  inquire  concerning  tbe  boohe 
in  aovwdes  and  otber  sucb  lifte  authorities. 
jBut  tbe  devil,  smiling,  potb:  "£be  boofee 
sball  be  yours  without  price  provided  only  you 
sball  bind  yourself  to  do  me  a  service  as  1 
sball  bereafter  specify  and  direct/' 


Men  tbe  friar  Gonsol  beard  tbis 
compact  be  ftnew  for  a  verity  tbat  tbe 
devil  was  indeed  tbe  devil,  and  bat  tbat  be 


sorely  wanted  tbe  boohe  be  would  bave  driven 
tbat  impious  fiend  straightway  from  bis  press 
once,  fcowbeit,  tbe  devil,  promising  to  visit 
bim  again  tbat  nigbt,  departed,  leaving  tbe 
friar  exceeding  beavy  in  spirit,  for  be  was 
both  assotted  upon  tbe  boofee  to  comprebend 
it  and  assotted  upon  tbe  devil  to  do  violence 
unto  bim* 


befell  tbat  in  bis  doublings  be  came 
into  tbe  friar  jfrancfs,  anotber  boly 
man  tbat  by  continual  fastings  and  devotions 
bad  made  bimself  an  ensample  of  piety  unto 
all  men,  and  to  tbis  sanctified  brotber  did 
tbe  friar  (Bonsol  straightway  unfold  tbe 

21 


story  of  bis  temptation  antt  speah  fully  of 
tbe  wondrous  boofce  and  of  its  divers  ricb« 

nesses* 


1£1R  tbat  be  bad  beard  tbis  narration 
tbe  jfriar  francis  made  answer  in 
tbis  wise:  "®f  great  subtility  surely  is  tbe 
devil  tbat  be  batb  set  tbis  snare  for  tby  feet. 
1Bave  a  care,  my  brotber,  tbat  tbou  tallest 
not  into  tbe  pit  wbicb  be  batb  digged  for 
tbee!  "iappy  art  tbou  to  bave  come  to  me 
witb  tbis  tbins,  elsewise  a  great  miscbief 
migbt  bave  befallen  tbee*  How  listen  to  my 
words  and  do  as  n  counsel  tbee*  f&ave  no 
more  to  do  witb  tbis  devil;  send  bim  to  me, 

23 


or  appoint  witb  bim  another  meeting  and  1 
will  90  in  tby  stead/' 

"flay,  nay,"  cried  tbe  jfriar  (Bonsol,  "tte 
saints  forefend  from  tbee  tbe  evil  temptation 
provided  for  my  especial  proving !  1  sbould 
been  reckoned  a  weak  and  coward  vessel  were 
fl  to  send  tbee  in  my  stead  to  bear  tbe  mortis 
f ications  designed  for  tbe  trying  of  my  vir= 
tues." 

"ttnt  tbou  art  a  younger  brother  tban  1," 
reasoned  tbe  friar  ffrancis,  softly;  "and, 
firm  tbougb  tby  resolution  may  be  now,  tbou 
art  more  lilte  tban  n  to  be  wbeedled  and  be* 
dazzled  by  tbese  diabolical  wiles  and  artifices* 
So  let  me  hnow  wbere  tbis  devil  abidetb 
witb  tbe  boofee;  n  burn  to  meet  bim  and 
to  wrest  tbe  treasure  from  bis  impious  pos= 
session." 

25 


iBut  tbe  friar  $onsol  sboofc  bis  bead  ana 
would  not  bear  unto  tbls  vicarious  sacrifice 
wbereon  tbe  good  friar  francis  bad  set  bis 
tart 

wab,  H  see  tbat  tbou  bast  little  faitb  fn 
my  strength  to  combat  tbe  fiend/'  potb  tbe 
friar  francis,  reproachfully.  "Cby  trust 
in  me  sbould  be  greater,  for  H  bave  lone  tbee 
full  many  a  hindly  office;  or,  now  1  do  be* 
tbinfe  me,  tbou  art  assotted  on  tbe  boohel 
dlnbappy  brotber,  can  it  be  tbat  tbou  dost  so 
covet  tbis  vain  toy,  tbis  frivolous  bauble, 
tbat  tbou  wouldst  seeh  tbe  devil's  com 
panionship  anon  to  compound  witb  ttedze* 
bub?  H  cbarge  tbee,  ftrotber  (Bonsol,  open 
tbine  eyes  and  see  in  wbat  a  slippery  place 
tbou  standeat." 

27 


How  by  tbese  argumentations  was  tbe 
friar  (Bonsol  mightily  confounded,  and  be 
hnew  not  what  to  do, 

"Come,  now,  besitate  no  longer,"  auotb 
tbe  jfriar  jfrancis,  "but  tell  me  wbere  tbat 
devil  may  be  f  ouncNfl  burn  to  see  and  to 
comprehend  tbe  boohe«not  tbat  1T  care  for 
tbe  boohe,  but  tbat  u  am  grievously  torment* 
ed  to  do  tbat  devil  a  sore  despigbt!  " 

"Odds  boddihins,"  pod  tbeotber  friar, 
"meseemetb  tbat  tbe  boolte  incitetb  tbee  more 
tban  tbe  devil/' 

"Cbou  speahest  wronfily,"  cried  tbe  ffrfar 
francis.  "Qbou  mistahest  pious  zeal  for 
sinful  selfishness,  full  wroth  am  11  to  bear 
bow  tbat  tbis  devil  walhetb  to  and  fro,  using  a 
sweet  and  precious  boohe  for  tbe  temptation 
of  boty  men*  Shall  so  righteous  an  instru* 

29 


ment  be  employed  by  tbe  prince  of  heretics  to 
so  unrighteous  an  end? " 

"2bou  safest  wisely,"  quotb  tbe  ifriar 
(Bonsol,  "and  tby  words  convince  me  tbat  a 
battaile  must  tie  made  \vitb  tbis  devil  for  tbat 
boohe.  So  now  V  sball  go  to  encounter  tbe 
fiend  I" 

"Sben  by  tbe  saints  u  sball  go  witb 
tbee!"  cried  tbe  jfriar  jfrancis,and  be  0atb* 
ered  bis  gown  about  bis  loins  rigbt  brisbly* 


wben  tbe  ifriar  (Bonsol  saw  tbis 
|  be  made  great  baste  to  go  alone,  and 
be  ran  out  of  tbe  door  full  swiftly  and  fared 
bim  wbere  tbe  devil  bad  appointed  an  appoint" 

31 


nunt  witb  Dim*  flow  wit  you  mil  (bat  toe 
jfriar  jfrancis  aid  follow  close  upon  bis  beels, 
for  tbousb  bis  legs  were  not  so  long  be  was 
a  migbty  runner  and  be  was  rigbt  sound  of 
wind*  Cberefore  was  it  a  pleasant  sigbt  to 
see  tbese  boly  men  vying  witb  one  anotber  to 
do  tattle  witb  tbe  devil,  and  mucb  it  repent* 
etb  me  tbat  tbere  be  some  ribald  heretics  tbat 
maintain  full  enviously  tbat  tbese  two  saintly 
friars  did  so  run  not  for  tbe  devil  tbat  tbey 
migbt  belabor  bint,  but  for  tbe  boohe  tbat  tbey 
migbt  possess  it* 


fortuned  tbat  tbe  devil  was  already 
come  to  tbe  place  wbere  be  bad  ap* 
pointed  tbe  appointment,  and  in  bis  band  be 

38 


bad  tbe  boofce  f oresaid.  flfiucb  marveled  be 
wben  tbat  be  bebeld  tbe  two  friars  faring 
tbence* 

"  fl  adjure  tbee,  tbou  devil/'  said  tbe  friar 
(Bonsol  from  afar  off,  "1  adjure  tbee  give 
me  tbat  boofee  else  1  will  tafte  tbee  by  tby 
borns  and  boots  and  drub  tby  ribs  together ! " 

<<4ieed  bim  not,  tbou  devil/'  said  tbe  friar 
francis,  "for  it  is  fl  tbat  am  coming  to 
wrestle  witb  tbee  and  to  overcome  tbee  for 
tbatbookel" 

Hditb  sucb  words  and  many  more  tbe  two 
boly  friars  bore  down  upon  tbe  devil;  but  tbe 
devil  tbinhing  verily  tbat  be  was  about  to  be 
beset  by  tbe  wbole  cburcb  militant  stayed  not 
for  tbeir  coming,  but  presently  departed  out 
of  sigbt  and  bore  tbe  boohe  witb  bim. 

35 


many  people  at  tbat  tine  saw  tbt 
devil  fleeing  before  tbe  two  friars,  so 
tbat,  esteeming  it  to  be  a  sign  of  special 
grace,  tbese  people  did  ever  thereafter  ac« 
knowledge  tbe  friars  to  be  saints,  and  into 
tbis  day  you  sball  bear  of  St.  6onsol  and  St. 
jfrancis.  Onto  tbis  day,  too,  dotb  tbe  devil, 
Mb  tbat  same  boohe  \vberewitb  be  tempted 
tbe  friar  of  old,  beset  and  ensnare  men  of 
every  age  and  in  all  places.  Against  wblcb 
devil  may  beaven  fortify  us  to  do  battle 
speedily  and  witb  successful  issuance. 


37 


fflote:  3MUIOH  batb  it  tbat  tbe  two  friars 
were  tRev.  jf.  on*  (Bunsaulus  and  ftev.  f«  Jffi* 
firistol,  Sut  tradition  may  not  always  fre 
trusted* 


LIBRARY 

CALIFORNIA 

LOS 


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